Feeling sleepy during the day? Experts reveal five foods that could be the cause

If you wake up excited to tackle the day ahead only to begin feeling tired and sleepy the entire day, then it could be much more than just the weather or your health. It could be the food you have been eating.

Scientists have revealed five popular foods that could be the reason behind you feeling exhausted and tired all day. According to American researchers, higher levels of tyramine- a molecule that regulates blood pressure- can increase the risk of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).

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What are the five foods?

According to experts, foods including aged cheeses, cured and processed meat, yeast-extract spreads, pickled-salt-dried foods like fish and dried fruits are all high in tyramine.

Aged cheeses include cheddar, feta, parmesan and brie

Cured and processed meat includes salami, sausage, bacon, pepperoni and mortadella.

Yeast-extract spreads include marmite and vegemite

Dried and overripe fruits include overripe bananas and avocados

The findings published in the journal Lancet eBioMedicine, suggested that sometimes debilitating conditions could be solved with simple dietary changes.

Tariq Faquih, study lead author and a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women's Hospital said, 'Our study suggests diet and genetics may play an important role in EDS.'

'As we learn what’s happening biologically, we are beginning to understand how and why EDS occurs, the early signs that someone might have it, and what we can do to help patients.'

Why is daytime exhaustion a risk?

The constant tendency to be tired and exhausted during the day is not normal. Research published in June found that daytime napping may be linked to an early death. Scientists who tracked more than 86,000 healthy middle-aged adults discovered that those who napped regularly, specifically in the early afternoon, were more likely to die prematurely compared to those who did not.

Experts suggest that daytime sleepiness may be a warning sign of disrupted night time rest and could point to underlying health conditions such as sleep disorders, dementia or heart failure.


So, the next time you find yourself battling heavy eyelids in the middle of the day, don’t just blame your late-night Netflix binge or boring Zoom meeting. What you’re eating could be quietly pulling the strings. Aged cheese, cured meats, or even that innocent pickle may be setting you up for a crash, while omega-rich foods can actually give your energy a lift. The fix isn’t complicated, just a few smart swaps and mindful choices at mealtimes. Remember, your diet fuels more than your body, it powers your focus, mood, and daily hustle too.